In a first of its kind unique and interactive meeting was held at Asha’s Mayapuri slum centre where Board Members and other important functionaries from Friends of Asha across UK, Northern Ireland, USA and Australia participated.
The session started with introductions, the Global Asha team, students and the women association members took turns to introduce themselves. This was followed by a session of interaction between the bright minds (students) from across Asha’s slum communities and the Asha’s Global think tank. The dreams, aspirations as well as the challenges were discussed. The students were from different academic backgrounds excelling in their chosen field conquering their own battles and emerging as a winner. They also mentioned about their Mentorship and Internship experience provided by Asha in multinational companies, diplomatic missions and UN organizations like IMF which gave them cutting edge international professional exposure. The guests were enthralled by their stories and asked about their future goals. All the dignitaries gathered for the meet congratulated the students and wished them success. These brilliant young minds are the torch bearers of Asha in the global fraternity.
Global Friends of Asha at Mayapuri slum community
If the students are flag bearers of Asha’s Higher Education Programme, the empowered ladies of Asha’s Mayapuri slum, who had not only changed their own destiny along with their community but has also started scripting a new paradigm for their offspring described the riveting stories of their life-changing experience. Truly, Empowerment of ladies in the community has been the real game changer in Asha’s endeavours.
Amanda Clegg with an Asha Mahila Mandal (Women’s Association) member
The post-lunch session was the interaction between the dignitaries representing Friends of Asha from Australia, UK, Northern Ireland and the USA. It was a wonderful brainstorming session with new ideas, creative inputs as well as strategic roadmap to take Asha forward globally. For many of the Board Members, the session was going back to the drawing board and explore new possibilities.
Friends of Asha Australia
Friends of Asha GB
Mr Richard Leder (National Coordinator- AFOA) chaired the discussion describing the milestones in the relationship between FOA and Asha India, also explained the activities on resource mobilisation in their respective countries. New avenues for resource mobilisation was one among the agenda. The benefits of collaboration, upgrading knowledge and developing volunteer base was discussed along with the new technological platforms for collaboration.
An exciting idea of Brand Extension of Hope and Spice to new lines like Apparels and Textiles was discussed with the global team.
Global Friends of Asha on a visit around the community
Building relationships seemed to be “the key” to the future. Events like “Curry Nights” should be replicated among all the Friends of Asha countries.
Also, the challenges involved, as well as the experiences involved in bringing schools to Asha and on the other side, bringing Asha to schools in the UK and Northern Ireland was an important point for discussion. They also asked the other members to replicate customised ideas for their respective countries.
Richard Leder concluded the meeting suggesting more ways of sharing and increasing visibility. The last lap was the Community visit at Mayapuri with the global guests.
We are grateful to our Global Friends of Asha for all their time, enthusiasm and passion to work for the cause of Asha.
Here are a few glimpses:
